Lost Photo: Max and Prez

Last week, Lars Westin, a JazzWax reader in Stockholm, sent along an amazing photo that has never seen the light of day—or too much of it. The photo features (from left) drummer Max Roach, drummer Jack Norén (a Swedish-American Chicagoan who played and recorded in Sweden with Stan Getz, Charlie Parker and many others), tenor saxophonist Lester Young and Swedish jazz critic Carl-Erik Lindgren.

Here's Lars' story...

The photo was taken by Roy Eldridge in 1952 while Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic tour was in Stockholm. The original photo's image had almost totally whittened when I found it in the files of the Swedish jazz magazine Orkester Journalen. I was the magazine's editor until 2007. I scanned it and worked on it with various Photo Shop tricks—a hobby of mine.

I am now heavily involved in Swedish jazz history research—being the chairman of the Swedish Jazz History Society. I'm also creating programs for Swedish Radio (a public service), lecturing and still contributing to Orkester Journalen. [Photo above of Norman Granz in Stockholm in 1952]

After doing a little research, the photo was likely taken in October 1952—between Young and Roach's JATP appearance in New York (September 1952) and Frankfurt, Germany (November). I don't have a list of the 1952 tour, but I suspect it included Stockholm. The musicians on the JATP tour were Roy Eldridge (tp), Lester Young and Flip Phillips (ts), Hank Jones (p), Irving Ashby (g), Ray Brown (b) and Max Roach (d).

You'll find a recording of this JATP band on Jazz at the Philharmonic, Frankfurt 1952 (Fantasy) here.

Speaking of Roy Eldridge: WKCR-New York will present its annual 24-hour Roy Eldridge Birthday Broadcast starting at midnight tonight and running all day Thursday. You can listen from anywhere in the world on your computer by going here.

I grew up listening to my father's jazz records and listening to the radio. My dad was a musician for many years as a vocalist, bassist and drummer. His two uncles played in the Symphony of Reggio Calabria back in Italy

I grew up listening to my father's jazz records and listening to the radio. My dad was a musician for many years as a vocalist, bassist and drummer. His two uncles played in the Symphony of Reggio Calabria back in Italy. So music and jazz specifically have been a part of me since I was born. I love and perform in all styles of music from around the world. Improvisation in jazz is what drew me in, and still does as well as other genres that feature improvisation. A group of great musicians expressing themselves as one is the hallmark of great jazz and in fact all great music.